Ramp tracks for stairs



June 20, 1961 O'DONNELL I 2,989,163

RAMP TRACKS FOR STAIRS Filed Nov. 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

HERBfKT R 000/V/VEZL United States Patent 2,989,163 RAMP TRACKS FORSTAIRS Herbert R. ODonnell, 20 North 'St., Washingtonville, N. Filed'Nov. 2, 1959, Ser- No. 850,139 6 Claims. (Cl. 193-41) The presentinvention relates to apparatus for transporting stre'tchers, caskets andthe like over a stair structure as they are moved into and out of abuilding.

In many undertaking establishments, convalescent homes and smallbuildings converted to hospitals there are stairs over which thestretcher or casket must be conveyed to enter and leave the building.This presents a considerable problem and especially in winter weatherwhen the stairs are apt to be icy. The stretcher or casket beingconveyed must be lifted up or down the inclined stairs by attendants ateither side which requires considerable physical effort, is awkward toaccomplish and is fraught with danger to the attendants lifting thestretcher or casket.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor transporting a stretcher or casket over a stair structure on awheeled carriage or dolly.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated whichprovides spaced tracks for a wheeled carriage or dolly at an inclineless steep than the incline of the stairs and provides a space forattendants at both sides and between the tracks.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of the type indicated whichmay be removably mounted on convention-a1 stair structures and isadjustable for wheeled carr-iages or dollies of different width and forstair structures of different heights and inclinations.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the type indicatedwhich is of simple and compact construction, economical to manufactureand install and one which is reliable in operation.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the followingdescription and drawing in which like reference characters denote likeparts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and isnot a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had forthis purpose to the appended claims.

Inthed'rawing': 1

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present inventionapplied to a staircase and showing the spaced inclined tracks for awheeled carriage or dolly. a

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 to'show thestruts of the spaced frames for supporting the tracks and one of theadjustable tie-plates for adjusting the width of the frames;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2 toshow the overlapping relationship of the two part tie-plate and thefasteners for attaching the tie-plate to the riser of the bottom step ofthe stairs; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a frame of modified constructionadapted for adjustment for stairs of different heights and inclinations.

In the drawing, the apparatus of the present invention is shown appliedto a staircase 9 having steps 10, an upper platform or landing 11 and alower platform 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper platform 11is at the level of the first floor of the building and the lowerplatform 12 is adjacent a roadway and forms a curb 13 at its edge. Handrails 14 are shown at each side of the staircase 9.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises spaced;

frames 15 and 16 supported from the lower platform 12 and, in turn,supporting spaced inclined tracks 17v track 17 or 18, a sill plate 19and an inclined base plate;

21, respectively. The inclined track 17 of the frame 15, for example,has its lower end 23 connected to theforward end '24 of the sill plate19, and the inclined base plate 21 has its opposite ends connected tothe sill plate 19 and upper end of the inclined track as by welding.

The sill plate 19 and base plate 21 may be of standard channel sectionswith the sill plate resting on the lower;

' platform 12 and the inclined base plate overlying the steps 10 ofstaircase 9. A plurality of struts 25 project upwardly between the sillplate 19 and base 21 and the inclined track 17 with their endspositioned between thefianges and attached thereto as by welding tosupport the track intermediate its ends. The frame 16 is of; identicalconstruction with the frame 15. p p

The frames 15 and 16 are held in spaced relation by a plurality oftie-plates 26, 27 and 28. Tie-plate 26. ex-

tends between the upper ends of the inclined tracks 17.

and 18 and overlies the forward edge of the platform 11, the tie-plate27 is connected between the rearward ends of the sill plates 19 and 19'and overlies the riser 29 of the lower step 10 of the staircase 9 andthe tieplate 28 is connected between the forward ends of the sill plates19 and 19. As shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 3 each of the tie-plates26, 27 and 28 is of a twopar-t construction having offset portions 30and 31 with overlying slots 32 and 33. One end of each part 30 and;

31 is connected to a track 17 or .18 or sill plate 19 or 19' 1 and thetwo parts are connected to each other by a bolt 34 extending through theoverlying slots 32 and 33. Thus, the bolts 34 of the respectivetie-plates 26, 27 and 28 may be loosened, the frames 15 and 16 adjustedtoward or away from each other and the bolts 34 again tightened toconnect the frames 15 and 16 in an integral structure.

Tie-plate 27 overlying the riser 29 of the lower step 10 is attachedthereto by screw fasteners 35, as illus-- trated in FIGURE 2. Similarly,the tie-plate 26 overlying the forward edge of the platform 11 isattached thereto by similar screw fasteners to hold the apparatus infixed position on the staircase. It will be understood. that the entireapparatus maybe easily and quickly installed or removed from thestaircase by merely applying or removing the screw fasteners 35 and theinclined tracks may be adjusted toward and away from each other byloosening and tightening the bolts 34.

It will be observed that the apparatus of the present invention providesspaced inclined tracks which extend from the upper platform 11 to thelower platform 12 at a point positioned outwardly from the lower step 10of the staircase 9. Thus, a stretcher or casket mounted on a wheeledcarriage or dolly and rolled along the tracks 17 and 18 will at alltimes be inclined at a smaller angle to the horizontal than it would beif carried up the staircase by attendants. It will still further beobserved that the spaced tracks 17 and 18 provide spaces on the stairsat either side of the track and between the tracks to hold the stretcheror casket as it is moved up or down the tracks.

Patented June 20, v1961 Each of the tracks 17 and 18 is provided with anopening 36 adjacent its lower end to receive the projecting pin of achock 37 for engagement by the wheels of a carriage or dolly to hold itas a stretcher or casket is being placed on orremoved from the dolly. Insome instances, the stretcher with the dolly attached may be removedfrom an ambulance onto the roadway adjacent the lower platform 12. Toprovide a ramp for wheeling the stretcher or casket over the curb 13,removable extensions 38 are provided having pins engaging holes in thetracks 17 and 18 similar to openings 36.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a frame 15 or 16 of modified construction adaptedfor use with stairs of different height and inclination. The frame 15 ofthe modified construction comprises the same inclined track 17, sillplate 19 and base plate 21. However, the lower end of the track 17 ispivotally connected to the forward end of the sill plate 19 by a pivotpin 40, the upper end of the base plate 21 is pivotally connected to theupper end of the track 17 by a pivot pin 41 and the lower end of thebase plate is slidable along the sill plate and has a threaded pin 42projecting through a slot 43 in the flange of the sill plate. The struts25 are of two part construction, each having a part 25a connected to theplate 21, respectively. The parts 25a and 25b of each strut 25 areslidable relative to each other with a bolt 44 on one part extendingthrough a slot 45 on the other part to adapt them to be clamped in anyadjusted position. Thus, by loosening a nut on a threaded pin 42 and thebolts of the two part struts 25, the frame 15 may be adjusted from theangular position illustrated in full lines to the positions illustratedin dot and dash lines in FIGURE 4. This adjustment of the apparatusadapts it for stairs of dilferent heights and slopes. Tie-plate 27 alsois adjustably connected to the sill plates 19 by slidable brackets 46 toposition it adjacent the step riser 29.

It will now be observed that the present invention provides an apparatusfor transporting a stretcher or casket over a staircase on a wheeledcarriage or dolly. It will also be observed that the present inventionprovides spaced tracks for a wheeled carriage or dolly at an inclineless than the incline of the stairs and provides a space for attendantson both sides and between the tracks. It will also be observed that thepresent invention provides an apparatus which may be removably mountedon conventional stairs and adjusted for stairs of different height andinclination and for dollies of different width. It will still further beobserved that the present invention provides an apparatus which is ofsimple and compact construction, economical to manufacture and installand one which is reliable in operation.

While two embodiments of the invention are herein illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that further changes may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of elements without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in thisrespect the invention is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for transporting stretchers, caskets and the like over astair structure having platforms at the top and bottom comprising spacedframes providing a space for attendants on the stairs at each side andbetween the frames, each frame comprising an inclined grooved trackextending from the top platform to the bottom platform, a sill plateresting on the lower platform and having its outer end connected to thelower end of the grooved track, an inclined base plate overlying thestairs and connected between the inner end of the sill plate and upperend of the rail and spaced upright struts extending between the inclinedrail and the sill and inclined base plates whereby the grooved track hasa slope less steep than the stairs, tie-plates extending between theframes at the upper ends of the tracks and the inner and outer ends ofthe sill plates to hold the frames in proper spaced relationship, andthe tie-plates between the upper ends of the tracks and the inner endsof the sill plates being connected to the forward edge of the upperplatform and riser of the bottom stair, respectively, to hold theapparatus in position on the stair structure.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the tie-plates betweenthe rails and sill plates are of two part construction in overlappingrelationship to adapt the frames to be adjusted toward and away fromeach other, and fastening means for connecting the separate parts of thetie-plates in any adjusted position.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the connection betweenthe tie-plates of the upper platform and riser of the bottom stair areremovable screw fasteners.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which chocks are adapted tobe removably mounted on the tracks, and means on the chocks and tracksfor mounting them in position thereon.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which removable extensionsare provided, and means at the lower ends of the tracks for mounting theextensions thereon.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the ends of the trackof each frame are pivotally connected to the sill and base plates,respectively, the ends of the sill and base plates are slidablyconnected to each other, the struts are of two part construction andrelatively slidable to adapt the frame for adjustment to fit stairstructures of different heights and slopes, and fastening means forlocking the sill pate to the base plate and the parts of the struts inany adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 76,516Pease Apr. 7, 18 68 215,895 Douty May 27, 1879 510,055 Stodder et alDec. 5, 1893 963,918 Miller July 12, 1910 981,613 Carter Ian. 17, 19112,615,544 Rynders Oct. 28, 1952

